AU - Samal, Janmejaya AU - Dehury, Ranjit TI - Challenges faced by health workers in providing maternity management and family planning services in Assam PT - ORIG DP - 2015 Sep 1 TA - Journal of Health Research and Reviews PG - 90-93 VI - 2 IP - 3 4099- https://www.jhrr.org/article.asp?issn=2394-2010;year=2015;volume=2;issue=3;spage=90;epage=93;aulast=Samal;type=0 4100- https://www.jhrr.org/article.asp?issn=2394-2010;year=2015;volume=2;issue=3;spage=90;epage=93;aulast=Samal AB - Background: The milieu of maternal health and family planning services always presents challenges in Indian communities. The situation is relatively more challenging in the rural parts of the country. The challenges are a mix of complex issues encompassing the health system and community challenges. Objectives: The basic objective of this study was to understand the challenges encountered by different cadres of health workers in providing maternity management and family planning services. Settings and Design: Different cadres of health care providers, that is, obstetrics and gynecology (O and G) specialists, medical officers (MOs), rural health practitioners (RHPs), and nurses working at the district and block levels were selected conveniently with the permission of State health administration.Materials and Methods: A qualitative pilot study was conducted in two districts of Assam. Participants were interviewed in-depth with the help of a semistructured interview schedule, which lasted for 26 days during May–July 2014. All the quantitative as well as qualitative data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: It is evident from our observation that the set of challenges varies with the service provider as well as the category of services in maternity management and family planning. Lack of medicine, lack of manpower, and community dynamics are perceived to be the greatest challenges in providing services among three or six cadres of health care providers. In addition, poor patient compliance, lack of infrastructure, caseload, and inadequate training are also perceived to be major challenges. Conclusion: Many of these challenges are in fact obvious and articulated by many researchers, but it is what needs to be done to overcome these problems that is the most important issue.